Monday 13 January 2025
Britain's toughest race sprints through Hebden Bridge
A non-stop, 268 mile race along the iconic Pennine Way
Hebden Bridge played host last night (Sunday 12 January) to several hundred intrepid runners undertaking the gruelling Winter Spine Race the length of the Pennine Way, arguably the toughest ultra race in Britain.
With the move this year of the local checkpoint from the scout hostel near Hardcastle Crags to the Birchcliffe Centre, runners were rerouted off the Pennine Way beyond Horsehold through the centre of town, before making their way back by the same route to continue the remaining 220 miles or so which was awaiting them.
Photo from Spine Race Facebook page
The Spine race started at Edale in the Peak District on Sunday morning at 8am, with the first three runners reaching Hebden Bridge about 4pm, having successfully crossed Kinder Scout, Bleaklow and Black Hill.
Thereafter, as night fell, a steady stream of head-torches marked the progress of runners down the Horsehold hill with the last runners arriving well into the early hours of Monday morning. Most barely paused at the Birchcliffe Centre before continuing to race through the night.
A day earlier, competitors in the so-called Spine Sprint race, a mere 46 miles or so, had completed their race at Hebden Bridge, after again starting in Edale.
With thanks to Andrew Bibby for the above
Below: video of Winter Spine Race 2025